It’s well known that the IT industry is male-dominated. According to a 2018 report, women account for 10% of the cybersecurity workforce in the Asia-Pacific region, 9% in Africa, 8% in Latin America, 7% in Europe, and 5% in the Middle East. A year later, (ISC)² published its 2019 Women in Cybersecurity report, which highlighted that women account for 24% of the cybersecurity workforce.
There are a number of reasons for this discrepancy:
- Gender bias: Unconscious biases that lead a person to prefer one gender over another can help explain the dearth of women in the IT industry.
- Education: Many women have an interest in computer science careers, but less than half of computer science students are women.
- Confidence gap: Often, when women are asked to assess their abilities, they give themselves, on average, a lower score than their employer would. Women hold themselves back, even though they are just as competent as their male counterparts.
- Discrimination and harassment in the workplace: 60% of women face unwanted sexual advances in the tech industry. The existence of this kind of behavior in a male-dominated industry can put off many women from pursuing an IT career.
So what can be done to encourage greater diversity in the IT industry? Well, one important strategy is to provide useful training and education resources to women who are interested in pursuing a career in IT.
Courses, Workshops, and Bootcamps
There are many affordable courses and boot camps that train women in coding and software development. The courses below normally last an average of six weeks, which makes them convenient and fast-paced:
- Apprenti: This site helps tech professionals connect with apprenticeship programs. It is actively recruiting women to help enhance diversity in the tech industry.
- Hackbright Academy: This academy provides an in-person, software engineer boot camp located in San Francisco. Their aim is to educate and empower women to build successful tech careers. You can complete the course on a full-time basis (lasting 12 weeks) or on a part-time basis (lasting 26 weeks).
- Ada Developers Academy: This non-profit academy provides tuition-free coding, serving underprivileged women and LGBTIA+ adults. Its program combines classroom training and paid internships that teach students how to write code and become proficient software developers.
- Girl Develop It: This non-profit shares affordable educational materials that have been developed by industry tech leaders, so they are high-quality and reliable. The goal of Girls Develop It is to offer women career-building opportunities by teaching them the basics you need to know to get ahead in the tech industry.
- Girls Who Code: This non-profit supports girls who are aged 13-17, helping them to learn and understand coding. Girls Who Code combines in-person programming courses and after-school programs. Its aim is to close the gender gap in entry-level tech jobs.
Certification Programs
Certification programs can help women who are already in the IT industry, who want to advance their careers by enhancing their skillset and knowledge base. These programs tend to be shorter than college degrees and are also less expensive. Some examples include:
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM): This certification provides education on project management methods, which is useful for women who want to obtain IT management positions.
- Isaca Certifications: This organization supports those in the tech industry who are looking to further their careers through education, credentials, and networking. Members have access to white papers, books, and webinars.
- CompTIA: This certification program can help women develop the skills that many employers are looking for. Depending on the tier you select, you can learn IT basics, operation security best practices, and the essential skills to troubleshoot any device.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISM): This certification from Isaca educates IT professionals in areas including information security governance, program development and management, and incident and risk management.
- Center for Creative Leadership: This organization has a three-month program called Women’s Leadership Experience, which is designed to empower and educate women with the knowledge and skills they need to have a greater impact in their organizations.
Organizations Supporting Women in IT
As well as courses and certification programs, there are community organizations that help women to break into the IT industry. These organizations provide support, continuing education, mentorship, and job boards that support this goal. Some we recommend checking out include:
Online Forums
There are several online forums where women can connect with people around the world for advice, mentorship, and potential work opportunities. Examples include:
Conferences and Events
Also, it can be useful to attend industry events, as this will introduce you to a number of industry professionals. Here are some conferences geared toward women in the tech industry:
- Grass Hopper Celebration
- Women in Tech Festival
- Women in Tech Summit (WITS)
All of the above resources can help women enter the IT industry, excel in their current IT careers, and, ultimately, help to close the gender gap.
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